ISN’T A HELPING HAND WORTH A STAND?

Regarding “Between the Lines,” (by Wanda Coleman, Three on the Town, Nov. 8): Let me see if I have this straight. You want me to feel outraged for you because in order to get something for nothing you had to wait in line? Forget it!

To receive a cash allowance, food stamps and free medical care, waiting in line is worth it. The Russians you equated yourself with wait in line for a potato. I worked as a welfare examiner for five years, and I can attest to the fact that most of the people who are in line drop in without an appointment.

Welfare examiners are tremendously overworked. I would bring work home and get up sometimes as early as 2 a.m. to start in on the impossible task of tackling it all. I was never compensated for the extra time and effort.

I started that job as a bleeding-heart liberal. I ended up incensed by a system that allows a family to stay on welfare for generations, and a culture that doesn’t engender welfare recipients with enough pride to think that that is wrong. I am now a frustrated Republican.

A. MARIE WANDER

Trabuco Canyon